2 bedroom at OKW

[Pa@okw95]

I noticed in another thread that there has been a suggest that an indivual who wants a 2 bedroom ask for a lockoff as if it is some grand prize. As a member of OKW since 95 I hope this is not a common practice while other resorts only have lock offs for a good reason, it gives management more flexibilty, to change rooms from studio, one bed, and two bedroom. But as a member I can only hope that if you need a 2 bedroom at OKW you take one, they are really great. What also will happen you will not take up a one bedroom and a studio to fill the 2 bedroom request. Studios are sought after a great deal, I don't use them myself, but they are popular, so are one bedrooms. To make my point a 2 bedroom reservation takes up just that a 2 bedroom, while a one bedroom with a lock off studio takes up 2 living quarters, using much needed studios and one bedroom to make up the 2 bedroom reservations. Sorry for being so wordie. At other resorts they have no choice but to give you a one bedroom with lock off when a two bedroom is requested, it in no way means it is more desireable. I think a lot of this has come about because people are using the living room as a sleeping quarters and the thought that people will be disturbed in the living room. What do you expect putting someone in the living room in the first place? Two bedrooms sleep 6 people without any need for the living room to be used as a bedroom, there are always grand-villas if you have more than 6 people, adults I should say.

 

[Dean]

One can ask but getting it may be another matter. I'm sure the resort has allotted for the appropriate level of 2 BR, 1 BR and studio usage. I suspect they hold back on the lockoff's and book the dedicated units first for those requesting a 2 BR unit. I am certain that the requests for a lockoff will have no bearing on availability of the smaller units.

One thing they once did but not more is this. You could book a lockoff then change it to a studio or 1 BR without losing the reservation even if that night was sold out. They no longer do this.

 

[InstImpres]

I have asked for a lockoff in the past and my reasoning is simple. Sometimes, I don't have a firm commitment from a family member who thinks they are coming. If I reserve a lockoff and they cancel, I can still keep the studio or 1BR, what ever than suits my needs. If I don't have a lockoff, I could be out of luck and end up homless!

I am sure this isn't everyone's rational but it is one thing to consider.

BTW, have there been problems with studios or 1BR not available because of people in 2BR lockoff's?

Thanks
Sandy

 

[Pa@okw95]

Dean-- That is good to hear. I hope you are correct> I sure hope this situation does not catch on like calling more than once for a reservation seems to be. I have to say that I use one bedrooms for my wife and myself and just hope this does not catch on too much. I really don't need to hear that there are no one bedrooms available when I call for one because of this situation. At any rate thanks Dean. I think down the road that there may have to be some changes made to the rules regarding things like this but for now I guess everything is going fine at least at OKW.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by InstImpres
I have asked for a lockoff in the past and my reasoning is simple. Sometimes, I don't have a firm commitment from a family member who thinks they are coming. If I reserve a lockoff and they cancel, I can still keep the studio or 1BR, what ever than suits my needs. If I don't have a lockoff, I could be out of luck and end up homless!

You may want to read my email above as I don't think they will do what your stated goal is in this situation. My understanding is they will cancel and rebook rather than just cancel what you don't need. I'm sure the implementation is variable though like most things with MS.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by Dean
I'm sure the implementation is variable though like most things with MS.

I think that is the true bottom line unfortuantely because I specifically asked before booking.

 

[hulagirl]

Pa,
If you were referring to my thread from earlier today, I asked the question because I was given a "lock off" when I reserved a 2-bedroom and I wasn't really sure what the difference was. I didn't specifically ask for one - it was just all that was available. Actually, in my situation, a dedicated 2 bedroom would be better because I have 3 little boys who will be sleeping in the second bedroom and they are very young. (I worry about the door to the outside) Can you actually request one or the other?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by InstImpres
I think that is the true bottom line unfortuantely because I specifically asked before booking.

It was this way once where one could just cancel part of a lockoff and keep the rest or one could easily substitute points within an already set reservation. The norm now is to cancel and rebook leaving you out in the cold if there is a wait list.

 

[spiceycat]

yes you can request a dedicated or lock off - except at BWV - they only have lock-off - but as Dean says it is one thing to request another thing to get it

If you are traveling with another couple that you are friends with but you are shy or you want some privacy or they want to charge - there are lots of valid reasons to request a lock off.

parents with young children will probably always request a dedicated (if their resort allows it).

 

[Simba's Mom]

Originally posted by Dean
I suspect they hold back on the lockoff's and book the dedicated units first for those requesting a 2 BR unit.

I'm pretty sure that's correct, at least at OKW. We booked a 2 BR several months ago. After talking with DH, I called back the next day to add a request for a dedicated unit. At that time, I was told that we were guaranteed a dedicated 2 BR because we'd booked "early enough and we always book those first". We'll find out for sure if that's what we get in 9 days!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just to chirp in here and note that I think the "lock-off" 2 bedroom has it's own temperature control in the second bedroom(studio). The dedicated 2 bedroom does not. That might be important if there is some potential "temperature issue" involved with two seperate families.
As an example--wE often go down with our friends to Ocean City Md. each year and sleep in a bedroom in their condo. My friend wouldn't turn on the AC if it killed him--and my wife and I wake up in mass of sweat each morning. Would be nice to have my own AC controls---

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Whenever we have booked a 2BR, the reservation has specifically stated that it is a dedicated or a lock-off 2-BR. I don't think that it a request. We like the lock-off when traveling with friends/family because it gives them more privacy, and the ability to come and go in the evening w/o tripping over the kid's sofa bed in the living room. They also have a coffeemaker and refrig. for storing some snacks, and making their own early morning coffee, etc.

 

[Eilonwy]

We're going in December and my brother just made the reservation last week. There will be 7 of us--me, DH, our 2.5 yo DS, my 2 brothers and my parents. My brother's the DVC member (I'm just the one that reads the boards and does all the research).

Anyway, he asked for a non-smoking, dedicated 2BR, and got it, no problem. For the other requests (building 30+, near playground for DS), we will of course have to wait and see what we get. When my brother told me that the dedicated was "a given," I figured it was for the reasons stated above--that it left Disney the option of having one more 1BR and one more studio to rent to someone else.

We're all family, so I figured we didn't need the lock-off 2BR. Since this is our first trip to OKW, I can't say how the dedicated room will work out for us (we've only been in BWV studios before).

Which brings up a question, of sorts. Over the past few days I've seen a bunch of pictures online of OKW rooms--studios and 1 BR. But does anybody have pictures of the dedicated 2BR? I'm curious what the space is like where the outside door would normally be in the studio. Or any other differences between lock-off and dedicated. Thanks in advance if you can point me to any pics!

 

[DebbieB]

BWV has the opposite - both dedicated & lockoff studios & 1 bedrooms but all lockoff 2 bedrooms. A couple of years ago I was booking a 1 bedroom at 11 months and requested dedicated (less noise because no lockoff door). MS told me that they automatically book the 1 bedroom dedicated first and then lockoffs once dedicateds are gone. Since I book at 11 months, I've always had a dedicated, I don't know if they would have allowed me to request a lockoff.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Eilonwy-- I am always in the master bedroom, but I will try to describe the second bedroom in the 2 bedroom unit at OKW. First it is large with 2 queen beds. As you walk in there is a small table and chair to the left. The bath room is to the right. The beds face toward the door but not right toward it. The room has the TV, etc that the the beds face. These rooms were not built to take the place of a studio so they do not fit the footprint of a studio. I think that is what you are driving at here.The second bedroom is to the right as you come in the front door, the master bedroom is down the hallway to the left, on the other side of the unit. Of course there are units where everything is in the other direction. As you come out the door of the 2nd bedroom you walk near the light switches for the kitchen and the living room area. I believe there is about 1400 square feet to these units which puts in about the size of a small house.

 

[Eilonwy]

Thanks, Pa@OKW95. I guess what I'm trying to find out is what the bathroom/closet area is like since there isn't the second door to the outside. None of the info sites have pictures of these. (Guess what I'll be doing before anybody messes up the room--LOL!)

My house is about 1200 sq ft, so I'm curious to see how it compares to my house when I get there.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Eilonwy
We're going in December and my brother just made the reservation last week. There will be 7 of us--me, DH, our 2.5 yo DS, my 2 brothers and my parents. My brother's the DVC member (I'm just the one that reads the boards and does all the research).

Anyway, he asked for a non-smoking, dedicated 2BR, and got it, no problem. For the other requests (building 30+, near playground for DS), we will of course have to wait and see what we get. When my brother told me that the dedicated was "a given," I figured it was for the reasons stated above--that it left Disney the option of having one more 1BR and one more studio to rent to someone else.

We're all family, so I figured we didn't need the lock-off 2BR. Since this is our first trip to OKW, I can't say how the dedicated room will work out for us (we've only been in BWV studios before).

Which brings up a question, of sorts. Over the past few days I've seen a bunch of pictures online of OKW rooms--studios and 1 BR. But does anybody have pictures of the dedicated 2BR? I'm curious what the space is like where the outside door would normally be in the studio. Or any other differences between lock-off and dedicated. Thanks in advance if you can point me to any pics!

Because you do not have an outside door in the second bedroom you gain a small walk in closet. Where the microwave/frig would be in a studio you pick up a sink and vanity dressing table area.

My understanding is if you are a DVC member using points you book a dedicated or lock off when you make your reservation with Member Services. If you are staying on cash basis you might get either, depending on what is available.

 

[Eilonwy]

Originally posted by Sammie
Because you do not have an outside door in the second bedroom you gain a small walk in closet. Where the microwave/frig would be in a studio you pick up a sink and vanity dressing table area.

My understanding is if you are a DVC member using points you book a dedicated or lock off when you make your reservation with Member Services. If you are staying on cash basis you might get either, depending on what is available.

Thanks! That's what I had read, but I'm still having a little trouble picturing it exactly. Guess I'll just have to wait until December!

Well, my brother's the DVC member, and he booked the room. (He's a great brother/uncle/son, and has taken me, DH, DS, our other brother, and our parents twice in the last 2 years. This trip makes #3! He supplies the room, we split the costs of everything else.) When he booked, they told him it was dedicated--which he asked for.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Well isn't this interesting. I have always got a dedicated 2br before, but this time I got a lock-off 2br. We booked at VWL, right at the 11 month window. MS said I could take my pick, lock-off or dedicated.

Go figure...